Tesla wants to register generic 'robotaxi' word as its own trademark

In recent years, the term "robotaxi" has become shorthand for any type of self-driving car that transports passengers, such as Waymo's autonomous taxis, which are becoming increasingly common in the US.

Tesla's applications were submitted last week as company boss Elon Musk unveiled Tesla's concept for a self-driving taxi and a self-driving bus for up to 20 people.

The trademark applications were first reported on by the electromobility news website Electrek. Musk referred to the vehicles as "Cybercab" and "Robovan" several times during the presentation. However, there is currently no application for "Cybercab" in the USPTO database.

Meanwhile, the name "Robovan" was already secured in 2019 by Starship Technologies, a company that develops delivery robots that drive on pavements.

Musk said Tesla's self-driving robotaxi would go into production in 2026 and would be available for private purchase at a price below US$30,000.

At the same time, he acknowledged that he tends to be too optimistic when it comes to deadlines.

Investors were disappointed by the lack of concrete details about the plans, causing Tesla shares to fall by around 9 per cent after the event.

At the same time, industry observers continue to doubt whether Tesla can achieve reliable autonomous driving with cameras alone.

Competitors such as Google's sister company Waymo, also uses more expensive technology such as laser radars that scan the vehicle's surroundings.

Waymo already operates a driverless robotaxi service in four US cities and makes more than 100,000 journeys with passengers per week.

Musk also demonstrated the latest version of the humanoid robot "Optimus" in Los Angeles, claiming that robots would be the most important product of all, as everyone will want to have mechanical helpers.

After the 20-minute car presentation, the robots could be seen performing as bartenders and dancers. However, financial wire Bloomberg has been among those to since report that some of the robots were remote-controlled by humans.

-- BERNAMA